Week 0, post-investigation

[okitactless]

[So, Yasusada is a sword.

And honestly, it isn't the murders or deaths that bother him. He is (perhaps contrary to popular belief) smart enough not to say as much out loud, because... well, most of the others are human. More-or-less.

So the blood, the necessity of killing, all of that is easy enough for him to accept. But seeing Jae-ha's breakdown in the aftermath had summoned up the most painful of his memories--and that, he hadn't prepared for.

Yasusada lost his master, in the past. He lost his partner. He'd lost just about everyone dear to him, intangible and invisible and utterly helpless.

Now, he is tangible. He is visible. And he is willing to do anything, if it means he won't be helpless this time around.

We still know nothing about those two, Okita had said, just a little earlier--and, well. It wasn't an order, but Yasusada wants so, so badly to be a good sword, now that he can actually speak to his master. So if they know nothing about "those two", then it stands to reason Okita would want to find out more. So here Yasusada is, searching for... something. Anything. Anything at all.

And then the door appears.

He very nearly walks past it, so caught up in his own head as he is right now, but thankfully even he isn't quite that oblivious. He is, however, lacking in self-preservation enough to open the magical door and poke his head inside, because it's not like this place is dangerous or anything.]

Comments

[themodsgrimm]

[Fortunately, the magical door does not disappear when he doesn't make any action to go inside. After a moment, it does creak open, and Yasusada will find himself compelled to step forward inside. Behind him, unseen, the door disappears back from where ever it first came from. No turning back now.

He finds himself what appears to be in the Tiger's personal chamber, a beautiful expanse of a room filled with luxurious furs and bathed in deep, rich colors. The bed's untouched, and although she sits halfway turned away from him at a vanity, brushing her hair, she's clearly aware of his presence.]

You could have just knocked.

[okitactless]

[Perhaps it's funny, how Yasusada is so perplexed by the existence of modern amenities but utterly unbaffled by things like this. Even the vanishing door, essentially trapping him here, gets nothing more than a glance over his shoulder before he shuffles forward (this, at least, he does cautiously--he isn't completely stupid, after all).]

Oh, hello Tora-kun. [He's open with his curiosity as he looks around, but he doesn't spend much time taking in his surroundings, instead offering her an amiable smile.] Your door doesn't have your name on it, so I didn't know anyone was in here.

[He's a simple boy with simple logic, okay. But he also has no qualms with being nosy, and he tilts his head.] Is your room always invisible?

[themodsgrimm]

It's not that it's necessarily invisible, but the two of us, if we have nothing else in common, value our privacy. It's a very difficult task to find us if we don't wish to be found.

[She gives him an amiable smile, putting her hairbrush down to turn more fully toward him.]

To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?

[okitactless]

["So you wished to be found by me?" a more clever person might ask--but even if Yasusada was the type to ask questions like that, he's too caught up in his own concerns at the moment to do so.

Besides, between the two of them, he likes Tiger more than Dragon. Sure, he's already biased to begin with, but she's also given him no reason to be hostile. His answer may be blunt, but honesty is simply his way.]

I wasn't looking for you. [A pause.] ...Well, I kind of was. But not on purpose. I'm trying to help Okita-kun.

[Honestly, he's assuming she probably already knows that much. He hasn't been quiet about his loyalties, after all.

Okita does not, however, know that he's here--and unless he actually manages to accomplish anything, he probably won't mention it. So he hesitates, but in the end... well. Asking can't hurt, right?]

Is there... any way to protect someone who isn't your partner?

[themodsgrimm]

There are a few different chances that one could have to protect someone who isn't their partner. Exactly what kind of protection did you have in mind?

[okitactless]

I want to keep him alive. [Yasusada pauses.] ...And safe. Hijikata-fukuchou too, if harm to him means harming Okita-kun too.

[The Shinsengumi used plenty of less-than-noble methods, after all, and Yasusada isn't actually a total idiot.

...Maybe a partial one, though, because he adds:] Okita-kun told me not to kill everyone right away, so I haven't. But I can't keep that promise if I found out anyone's hurt him.

[He doesn't say it like a threat, just a simple fact. Protecting his master is his purpose. If he fails at that, he has no right to call himself Okita Souji's sword.]

[themodsgrimm]

[The Tiger taps her nails on her vanity, thinking as she listens to his words carefully.]

...some advice. In this game, it's much better to act than to wait for a deadly inevitability. The players rarely strike to hurt first. Keeping promises is an admirable quality in a loyal weapon, but just the same, I wouldn't hold onto those words too long.

[okitactless]

...so kill before you're killed, then.

[He sounds disappointed, maybe, tired, but not really surprised.

Letting his gaze wander around the room again, he mumbles to himself, trying to sort out conflicting loyalties.] But Okita-kun will be sad if I attack someone innocent...

[Innocent of targeting him personally, that is, since that's the only truly important factor to him. But if the rules are accurate, then it's only a matter of time... and yet, it's difficult to justify striking indiscriminately, even though he knows that almost everyone here is likely willing to do just that if need be.

Almost everyone.

He glances back at her, big eyes openly distressed. He isn't a youkai--mind games and strategies are not his forte. His hands itch to take action, but with no one to direct him, he's left feeling restless, helpless, and frustrated with himself.] Isn't there a way to tell who's going to strike?